RHYTHM & BLUES

RETURN TO MEMPHIS – new single from Teesside Rhythm & Blues singer & songwriter Emma Wilson

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Emma at BBC Radio 2 with Cerys Mathews December 2023

Magazine front covers, BBC Radio 2, awards, tours, record releases – this past few year Emma has been prolific. In 2023 she released ‘Memphis Calling’ recorded in Sam Phillips studio in Memphis, USA, earlier this year she talked about her third album ‘A Spoonful of Willie Dixon’. Recently she got in touch about her latest single…

I’m stablemates with American band Chris Wyze and the Tellers. We’re both signed for distribution with ‘Select-O-Hits’ in Memphis. Chris found out I was in Tennessee for a few days in September so asked me to co-write and sing a duet with him. We recorded ‘Hearts Blue Christmas’ at Royal Studios in Memphis with the Hi Rhythm Section.

At the end of the recording session producer Boo Mitchell said ‘We have an hour left“. Chris turned to me and said ‘Do you want to do anything?’ I’ve previously recorded with pianist Charles Hodges (who is part of the Hi Rhythm Section) on my record ‘Memphis Calling’ and we have a good friendship and work well together.

I asked Charles if he knew the song “What are you doing New Years Eve”? The track was written by Frank Loesser in 1947. I think I must have first heard the Lena Horne’s 1966 version as my Mum played a lot of her music when I was little.

Charles strolled over and started playing it so beautifully on the grand piano. That piano has been in the same position at Royal studios for decades. Goodness knows how many iconic songs it has featured on!

Charles and I spent about ten minutes getting a key to suit and having a run through, then he called Steve Potts to play some lovely light drums and then we taped it.

L to R – Charles Hodges, Steve Potts, Hubbie Turner, Emma Wilson, Boo Mitchell, Lina Beach, Chris Wyze and Leroy Hodges at Royal Studio, Willie Mitchell Boulevard, Memphis on 25 September 2025.

Along with promoting the single now Emma is already looking forward to 2026…Recently I won the UK Blues Challenge at Marshall Studios which means I go to Memphis in January to represent the UK in the International Blues Challenge and for the European Blues Challenge I go to Poland.

‘What Are You Doing New Years Eve’ is out on 21st November 2025 as digital download and a very limited run of CDs which are available from the official website >>>

Emma Wilson – award winning rhythm & blues singer from the UK

Alikivi   November 2025

THE NASHVILLE SONG with Teesside rhythm & blues singer & songwriter Emma Wilson

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‘Watching You Leave’ is the new single by Emma Wilson released on Friday 29 September. It’s the second from her new album Memphis Calling out on 27 October 2023.

“Watching You Leave’ is about accepting that every time your lover leaves you just know they are going to come back” explained Emma.

The track is written by Emma and Gary Burr. Emma travelled to Nashville, USA in January 2023 to spend four days writing in Gary Burr’s studio.

‘He has a home studio so it’s a very relaxed environment, yet when we start work it’s intense. I learned from Gary that songs are like movies, you visualise the story’.

Emma, who was winner of the Emerging Blues Artist of The Year at the UK Blues Awards 2022, was in good company as Gary Burr is a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Billboard Country Songwriter of the Year, written fifteen #1 hits and had songs recorded by Garth Brooks, Carole King, Ringo Starr, LeAnn Rimes, Christina Aguilera and Ricky Martin.

‘It was a real masterclass in songwriting. I consider myself at the beginning of my songwriting career however Gary has been at the forefront of the Nashville songwriting scene for decades, in fact, he’s internationally recognised having won many awards’.

What did you learn from the songwriting sessions?

‘I learned that simplicity is often the key, I was trying all sorts of ‘flowery’ lyrics and Gary just said “Imagine you’re having a coffee with a friend. What would you say?” And it works you can get your message over like a conversation’.

‘I’ve also been used to repeating the same lyrics in verses but Gary says “A line is never to be wasted, you have to finish the story”. We wrote four great songs together’.

‘I really enjoyed my time, Gary made me feel very much an equal, professionally and musically. I did smile to myself though when I looked over to his cabinet full of awards!’    

How do you think the single has come out ?

‘I’m absolutely thrilled with the single, Gary and I demo-ed it with guitar, bass and drums. Then he said to me you need a really groovy band to record this. Of course the band in Memphis loved it and put a great feel on it’.

‘We picked a great key for my vocal so I can really deliver it, that’s another great thing about writing your own songs, you can pitch it however you want to get the best out of your voice’. 

Have you any live dates booked ?

‘Yes I’m playing Leeds on Friday 3rd November at The Cross Keys as part of Leeds Blues Club with my UK Band who are excellent’. 

Tickets:

https://www.ents24.com/leeds-events/the-cross-keys-leeds/emma-wilson-band/6859418

Emma added ‘I hope we’ll get to gig in Europe in the New Year and maybe I will go back to Memphis for a gig with the Memphian band! 

The single ‘Watching You Leave’ out on Friday 29th September. Pre Save it to your chosen digital music provider through this link –

https://EmmaWilson.lnk.to/WatchingYouLeave

For more information and extra tour dates contact the official website: www.emmawilson.net

Alikivi    September  2023